Meet Our Dogs:
Every dog in our program is raised with purpose, trained with care, and matched with intention. From birth to placement, our dogs follow a thoughtfully structured path that prioritizes health, socialization, and skill development—so they can ultimately offer life-changing support to those who need it most.
Where Our Dogs Come From:
Most of our dogs are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, or a mix of the two; chosen for their intelligence, work ethic, and gentle disposition. When we aren’t breeding our own puppies, we work with trusted breeding partners who prioritize physical wellness, temperament, & socialization to set each puppy up for success from day one.
We also work with Daniel and Friends Dog Rescue to identify dogs with the potential to enter our training program. These dogs are evaluated and developed with the goal of becoming service or facility dogs, expanding the pathways through which we can grow our impact.
The Puppy Raising Journey:
Puppy Starting:
Our dogs begin their training journey at just eight weeks old. When we meet our dogs, they are first placed with a volunteer puppy raiser. These volunteers provide daily care and early socialization—introducing their puppy to people, pets, places, and experiences that build confidence and good manners.
Puppy Raising:
At around six months of age, the dog enters our Serving with Canines Program, conducted in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Correction. During this phase, dogs live and train full-time with their incarcerated handler and return to their raiser once a month for a weeklong furlough visit. This structure provides consistent, dedicated training while continuing socialization in everyday environments.
Our puppy raisers and incarcerated handlers work together to reinforce cues, provide structure, and support each dog’s development as they prepare for advanced training.
Puppy Graduation:
As dogs progress through the program, they build advanced cues, task-specific skills, and public access readiness. They are regularly evaluated by our training staff to ensure they are meeting benchmarks and continuing to thrive. By the end of their training journey—typically around two years of age—each dog is matched with a client or placed into a career that aligns with their strengths and temperament.
- 8 Weeks Old: Arrive at RI & Placed with Puppy Raiser
- 6 Months Old: Go In-For-Training
- 6-24 Months: Full-Time Training, Monthly Furloughs, Evaluations
- ~2 Years: Match, Graduation, Placed Into Career
Serving with Canines
Our partnership with the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) provides the structure, consistency, and care our dogs need during their advanced training years. Inside each participating facility, our dogs are assigned to incarcerated handlers who live and work with them full-time. These trainers are selected for their dedication and complete extensive coursework, canine behavior training, and hands-on instruction from our professional staff.
Training & Rehabilitation Model
Through daily engagement, handlers teach foundational and advanced cues, public access behavior, and specialized tasks.
In addition to dog training, participants receive guidance and support through on-site counseling facilitated by our on-staff counselor. This holistic approach fosters personal growth, emotional insight, and stronger communication skills.
Program Impact
The impact of these programs is profound. We are proud to share a 0% recidivism rate among program graduates. Participants carry forward confidence, discipline, and compassion learned through the program into their future lives, extending the impact well beyond prison walls.
Their influence ripples outward into our dogs, our community, and continues to propel our mission forward.
Program Locations
We currently operate at the:
- Turney Center Industrial Complex
- Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center
- Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
Careers:
Our dogs graduate into three primary working roles:
Service Dogs:
Trained to support individuals living with physical, neurological, or psychiatric disabilities by performing specific tasks that increase safety, mobility, and independence wherever they go.
Click here if you are interested in applying for a service dog.
Facility Dogs:
Placed in schools, healthcare centers, and court systems to provide comfort, structure, and emotional support to groups of people.
Click here if you are interested in applying for a facility dog.
Fun Fact: Many of our Facility Dogs are placed within the Franklin School District! This spring, we will have a dog placed in each school within the district.
In Home Skilled Companions:
Matched with individuals or families living with physical or psychiatric disabilities, to support their needs within the home by performing tasks to increase safety, mobility, and independence.
Click here if you are interested in applying for an in home skilled companion.
Other Career Opportunities for Our Dogs:
Not every dog is suited for a traditional service or facility role, and that’s by design. We evaluate each dog individually, considering their strengths, temperament, and overall fit to determine the best path forward.
Some dogs go on to specialized working careers, including Urban Search and Rescue, Electronics Detection, and Explosives Detection through trusted partners. These roles provide meaningful, mission-focused work for dogs with the right skills and drive.
Others transition into well-matched pet homes through our adoption program, where the training and socialization they’ve received help them thrive in family life.
Every placement is intentional. And every dog finds the place it is meant to be.
Want to learn more about the differences between our career types?
Click the link below: